Saint Maurice and the Theban Legion

A traveler on the highway that leads from Geneva to Rome, will notice a
small and a very old Swiss town called "Saint Maurice". This town was known in
the Roman times as "Aguanum", an important communication center. It was there
that a Coptic officer named Maurice and 6600 of his fellow soldiers died for the sake of
Christ at the hands of the impious Emperor Maximian (285-305 AD).

The story of these martyrs, commonly known as the Theban Legion (Alkateeba alTeebia or
Alkateeba al-sa'eedia) has been preserved for us by Saint Eucher, the bishop of Lyons, who
died in 494 AD. The bishop starts the account of the martyrdom of these valiant soldiers
by the following introduction: "Here is the story of the passion of the holly Martyrs
who have made Aguanum illustrious with their blood. It is in honour of this heroic
martyrdom that we narrate with our pen the order of events as it came to our ears. We
often hear, do we not, a particular locality or city is held in high honour because of one
single martyr who died there, and quite rightly, because in each case the saint gave his
precious soul to the most high God. How much more should this sacred place, Aguanum, be
reverenced, where so many thousands of martyrs have been slain, with the sword, for the
sake of Christ."

Under "Maximian", who was an Emperor of the Roman Commonwealth (Empire) with
Diocletian as his colleague, an uprising of the Gauls known as "Bagaude" forced
Maximian to march against them with an army of which one unit was the Thebian Legion
composed of 6600 men. This unit had been recruited from upper Egypt and consisted entirely
of Christians. They were good men and soldiers who, even under arms, did not forget to
render to God the things of God, and to Caesar the things of Caesar.

After the revolt was quelled, the Emperor Maximian issued an order that the whole army
should join offering sacrifices for the Roman gods for the success of their mission. The
order included killing Christians (probably as a sacrifice to the Roman gods). Only the
Thebian Legion dared to refuse to comply with the orders. The legion withdrew itself,
encamped near Aguanum and refused to take part in these rites.

Maximian was then resting in a near-by place called Octudurum. When these news came to
him , he repeatedly commanded them to obey his rules and orders, and upon their constant
and unanimous refusal, he ordered that the legion should be "decimated".
Accordingly, every tenth man was put to death. A second "decimation" was ordered
unless the men obeyed the order given but their was a great shout through the legion camp:
they all declared that they would never allow themselves to carry out such a sacrilegious
order. They had always the horror of idolatry, they had been brought up as christians and
were instructed in the One Eternal God and were ready to suffer extreme penalties rather
than do any thing contrary to their religion.

When Maximian heard these news, he got angrier than ever. Like a savage beast, he
ordered the second decimation to be carried out, intending that the remainder should be
compelled to do what they hitherto refused. Yet they still maintained their resolve. After
the second decimation, Maximian warned the remainder of the Theban legion that it was of
no use for them to trust in their number, for if they persisted in their disobedience, not
a man among them would be able to escape death.

The greatest mainstay of their faith in this crisis was undoubtedly their captain
Maurice, with his lieutenants Candid, the first commanding officer, and
"Exuperius" the "Compidoctor". He fired the hearts of the soldiers
with the fervor by his encouragement. Maurice, calling attention to the example of their
faithful fellow soldiers, already martyrs, persuaded them all be be ready to die in their
turn for the sake of their baptismal vow (The promise one makes at his baptismal to
renounce satan and his abominable service and to worship only God). He reminded them of
their comrades who had gone to heaven before them. At his words, a glorious eagerness for
martyrdom burned in the hearts of those most blessed men.

Fired thus by the lead of their officers, the Theban legion sent to Maximian (who was
still enraged) a reply as loyal as it is brave:
"Emperor, we are your soldiers but also the soldiers of the true God. We owe you
military service and obedience, but we cannot renounce Him who is our Creator and Master,
and also yours even though you reject Him. In all things which are not against His law, we
most willingly obey you, as we have done hitherto. We readily oppose your enemies whoever
they are, but we cannot stain our hands with the blood of innocent people (Christians). We
have taken an oath to God before we took one to you, you cannot place any confidence in
our second oath if we violate the other (the first). You commanded us to execute
Christians, behold we are such. We confess God the Father the creator of all things and
His Son Jesus Christ, God. We have seen our comrades slain with the sword, we do not weep
for them but rather rejoice at their honour. Neither this, nor any other provocation have
tempted us to revolt. Behold, we have arms in our hands, but we do not resist, because we
would rather die innocent than live by any sin.''

When Maximian heard this, he realized that these men were obstinately determined to
remain in their Christian faith, and he despaired of being able to turn them from their
constancy. He therefore decreed, in a final sentence, that they should be rounded up, and
the slaughter completed. The troops sent to execute this order came to the blessed legion
and drew their swords upon those holy men who, for love of life, did not refuse to die.
They were all slain with the sword. They never resisted in any way. Putting aside their
weapons, they offered their necks to the executioners. Neither their numbers nor the
strength of arms tempted them to uphold the justice of their cause by force.

They kept just one thing in their minds, that they were bearing witness to him who was
lead to death without protest, and who, like a lamb, opened not his mouth; but that
now,they them selves, sheep in the Lord's flock, were to be massacred as it by ravaging
wolves. Thus, by the savage cruelty of this tyrant, that fellowship of the saints was
perfected. For they despised things present in hope of things to come. So was slain that
truly angelic legion of men who, we trust, now praise the Lord God of Hosts, together with
the legions of Angels, in heaven forever.

Not all the members of the legion were at Aguanum at the time of the massacre. Others
were posted along the military highway linking Switzerland with Germany and Italy. These
were progressively and methodically martyred wherever they were found. Some of the most
celebrated saints who were martyred are:

In Switzerland
--------------
The following five Saints were martyred at Aguanum place (also this city is known now as
Saint Maurice en Valais), along with the rest of their cohort.. - Saint Maurice
- Saint Exuperius
- Saint Candid
- Saint Innocent
- Saint Vitalis

The following two Saints were found at Solothurn along with 66 others:
- Saint Ursus
- Saint Victor

In Germany
----------
The following saints were martyred in Terier along with many others of their comrades:
- Saint Tyrsus
- Saint Palmatius
- Saint Bonifatius

The following two saints were martyred in Bonn among many others in their cohort:
- Saint Cassius
- Saint Florentius

The following saint was martyred along with 318 others in Cologne:
- Saint Gereon

The following two saints were martyred along with 330 others in Xanten:
- Saint Victor
- Saint Mallosius

During their martyrdom, numerous miracles happened, which undoubtedly largely
contributed to the massive conversion of the inhabitants of these regions to Christianity.
In Zurich for instance, the three beheaded saints Felix, Regula and Exuperantius
miraculously rose, carried their heads on their own hands, walked to the top of a hill,
where they knelt, prayed and at last lay down. On the same spot, a large cathedral was
later erected. The three saints carrying their heads on their hands appear on the coat of
arms and seal of Zurich until today.

Saints Victor, Orsus and their comrads were barbarously tortured by Hirtacus, the roman
governor of Solothurn. During this torture, several miracles occurred, e.g. the shackles
suddenly broke open, the fire was instantaneously extinguished, etc. The lookers-on were
thus filled with wonder and began to admire the Theban legionaires, upon which the furious
Hirtacus ordered their immediate beheading. Without the slightest resistance they offered
the executors their necks. The bodies of the beheaded Saints then shown in glaring
brightness. The bodies of the Saints which were thrown in the river Aar, advanced the
bank, stepped out, walked heads on hands, then knelt and prayed at the spot where the
Basilica of St. Peter later arose.

The bodies of the martyrs of Aguanum were discovered and identified by Saint Theodore
the Bishop of Octudurm, who was in office at 350 AD. He built a Basilica in their honour
at Aguanum, the remains of which are visible untill now. This later became the center of a
monastery built about the year 515 AD on the land donated by King Sigismund of Burgundy.

Saint Eucher mentions that in his time (he died 494 AD), many came diverse provinces of
the empire devoutly to honour these Saints, and to offer presents of gold, silver and
other things. He mentions that many miracles were performed at their shrine such as
casting out of devils and other kinds of healing "which the might of the lord works
there everyday through the intercession of His saints."

In the middle ages Saint Maurice was the patron saint of several of the roman dynasties
of Europe, and later on of the Holy Roman emperors. In 926, Henry I (919-936 AD), even
ceded the present Swiss Canton (province) of Aargua in return of the lance of the saints.
Some emperors were also anointed before the Altar of saint Maurice in saint Peter's
Cathedral in Rome. The sword of Saint Maurice, was last used in the coronation of the
Austrian Emperor Charles as King of Hungary in 1916.

Kings, noblemen, and church leaders vied to obtain small portions of the relics of the
saints in order to build churches in their honour. The famous King Charlemangne offered
the monastery one of the treasured thorns that came from the crown of thorns of our Savior
in return for a small portion of the sacred relics. He later built a church in honour of
the martyrs inside the court of his palace.

Saint Maurice has always been one of the most popular saints in Western Europe, with
over 650 foundations in his name in France alone. Five cathedrals, innumerable churches,
chapels and alters are consecrated in his name all over Europe. Aguanum (Saint Maurice en
Valais) has always remained the main focus of veneration of the Thebans and a significant
pilgrimage resort. In the monastery that bears his name there, the monks perform a special
devotion to the saints every day, and celebrate their feast on September 22 of each year.
An all night vigil, on the night before the feast is attended by nearly 1000 people. On
the feast day, they carry in procession the relics of the martyrs in the ancient silver
caskets. Over seventy towns bear the name of Saint Maurice.

In the Monastery carrying his name in Switzerland, the vigil "Tasbeha" has
been chanted continuously (24 hours a day) without stopping for more than 500 years now.

Saint Maurice and the Theban Legion in the Coptic Tradition:

There is no entry in the Coptic Synxarion for these saints, neither is their any Coptic
Church concecrated in their names. The only altar concecrated in their names. As of the
writing of this article (September 1992), the only altar concecrated in the name of saint
Maurice is found in the Church of the Virgin Mary and Saint Athanasius in Mississauga,
Canada. There is an icon depicting the martyrdom of saint Maurice and Saint Mary's Coptic
Orthodox church in Cambridge, Canada.

In 1991, The Christian world celebrated the seventeenth centennial of the martyrdom of
these saints. H.H. Pope Shenouda delegated His Grace Bishop Serapion to represent the
Coptic Church in these celebrations. On that occasion parts of the relics of Saint
Maurice, St. Cassius and St. Florentius were returned to the Coptic Church.

References:

1) Samir F. Girgis, PhD, "The Theban Legion in Switzerland".
2) Samir F. Girgis, PhD, "The significant contribution of the Copts to the early
evangelization of Switzerland ".
3) Samir F. Girgis, PhD, "A short introduction to the Coptic orthodox Church of
Alexandria.
4) J.R.Fox: "The treasure at Saint Maurice of Aguanum".
5) L'Abbaye Saint Muarice en Valais: A place called Saint Maurice.
6) Thurston & Attwater: Butler's lives of the Saints.